Hazel Park wrestlers grapple with emotions

HAZEL PARK – When Hazel Park captain Keith Bucholtz talks about the upcoming Oakland County wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday, he gets a gleam in his eye.

“Oh, it’s big,” he says. “It’s one of those tournaments where you definitely feel nervous before you go out there. It’s just so big that you’re going to feel it for sure.”

On Friday, there will be two sites for the meet; Southfield High and Lake Orion High. On Saturday, everything will take place in Lake Orion.

Rumor has it that the Oakland County tournament is the biggest county tournament in the nation – although this has not been confirmed. No matter, the point is that this tournament is one of the biggest of its kind and gives area wrestlers a chance to go up against wrestlers outside of their conference and even their division. A Division 2 wrestler might meet an opponent from a Division 1 school or a Division 3 school.

“The county meet is a way for you to gauge if you are good,” says Bucholtz, who wrestles at 160 for the Vikings. “If someone asks you if you are good, they are going to base their opinion on how you did at counties.”

Senior Taryn Goslow is making her first appearance at the Oakland County meet. She expects to go at 130 pounds and is really excited and really nervous. “This is a preview of what the rest of the season will look like,” says Goslow

“I think it gives you insight on how hard other people are working and you also get to see how different high schools wrestle different styles. It is interesting to watch. I’ve been wrestling a long time so I’ve had 10 different coaches and they all bring something a little different and have a different approach. You see that when you watch other teams at counties.”

Goslow admits that wrestling in such a large tournament is a little scary. But her excitement outweighs her fear and she is looking forward to her Oakland County debut.

“I’m excited not only for me but also for a couple of my teammates and seeing what they are going to do,” says Goslow. “If you place high at the tournament, you know to just keep doing what you are doing. You know you’re on the right track. If you place low, you know you have to change it up and do something else.”

Hazel Park’s 125-pound wrestler Joe Saferian and 130-pound Zac Saferian come from strong Oakland County wrestling stock. Their father and their uncle were Oakland County champions and they both have heard stories for years about the Oakland County tournament and its legacy.

“They’ve given us advice and we have talked about it,” says Joe. “It was big for them too and they remember how it was, how much you have to prepare and how hard you have to work to win.”

Last year, Joe lost his first match of the tournament and had to battle back in order to place 9th. Bucholtz won his first match, then lost his second match the following day and also had to wrestle back to place 7th. Zac, who is a freshman, will be making his first appearance at the county tournament but says he has been a careful observer in past years that he has attended as a spectator.

“I’m only a freshman so this is my first time but I was there last year and I watched and I see how it is as far as the competition,” says Zac. “There are matches everywhere and you have got to pay attention. It’s important.”

When Joe speaks of the tournament, he speaks with reverence. Every wrestler respects the tournament and all opponents. At the same time, veterans like Joe Saferian and Bucholtz are telling the many young wrestlers on Hazel Park’s team not to fret if they don’t place in this year’s tournament. Learning to navigate the colossal event takes time.

“I tell our younger wrestlers that if they lose, don’t make a big deal out of it,” says Joe. “It’s your freshman year and you’re going to have a lot of other chances. Keep your head up and keep your eyes open because it is a great opportunity to learn.”

Bucholtz echoes his advice: “Take in everything you can your first year, learn from it, then you will know what you have to do.”

With so many wrestlers from all over Oakland County, you wonder if the Vikings would be rooting for their OAA counterparts – sort of an OAA against the rest of the county sort of thing. Bucholtz says no.

“Oh, we want to beat the teams in our own conference just as much as we want to beat everyone else,” says Bucholtz. “The Oakland County tournament just gives you a good idea of how you’re doing through the season and of course, you want to do really well no matter who you’re wrestling against.”